NEW DELHI: Yoga guru Ramdev gate crashed into the Ramlila Maidan on Wednesday, even taking the stage to address the audience, despite reservations expressed by Team Anna.

Baba Ramdev said he wanted to express solidarity in Anna's fight
against corruption. Ramdev also chose to use the occasion to remind the
crowd about the alleged "police brutality'' that he had to face in June
when he was evicted from the same venue in a midnight crackdown during
his protest against black money stashed abroad and corruption that
besets the nation.

"I hope the police does not bring lathis
and bullets again. This is a protest against corruption," he said,
adding that he had told Anna that he would take to the stage if the
Gandhian had to go to hospital.

The Anna camp had been
reluctant to allow Ramdev to join the campaign. They had even
discouraged him from addressing the crowd, but the yoga guru's
insistence left them with little choice.

Reservations had been
expressed during Anna's April fast over the presence of right-wing
leaders like Ramdev and Sadhvi Rithambara. In an attempt to steer clear
of the controversy, this time around Team Anna has changed the backdrop
from Bharatmata - seen as a symbol for saffron parties - to a black and
white portrait of Mahatma Gandhi.

Ramdev said he was with the
74-year-old Gandhian for an hour to extend solidarity in his "fight
against corruption" and make the system "transparent". "The logjam (in
talks) should end soon," he said. source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com